Collapsible bottle carrier



May 16, 1950 R. E. FOWLER 2,508,062

COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Jan. 12, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @0 ATTDR N EYS May 16, 1950 R. E. FOWLER 2,508,062

COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Jan. 12, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 2 [55 ZINVENTOR.

A'ITD RN EYS y 6, 1950 R. E. FOWLER 2,508,062

COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIER Filgd Jan. 12, 1948 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 12,INVENTUR. 1 Byfl JZW Zefi v 12 F re m I w 2% v 13 12 F i I ATTCI R N EYEl atentecl May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to package and article carriersincluding trays and to be carried by hand and more specifically to animproved collapsible bottle carrier which while adapted for carryingvarious kinds of bottles is especially designed for carrying soft drinkbottles. The primary object of the invention is the provision of acarrier of this type that may be folded into compact shape and size forshipping and storing purposes, and which is readily extensible toreceive and contain the bottled goods. In carrying out my invention Iutilize a central upright panel, having a depressible and extensiblehandle, together with a pair of infolding trays pivotally mounted atopposite sides of the panel, and unitary braces forming bottle-:separators and pivotally linking together each of the trays with thecentral panel.

A minimum number of parts are employed in the carrier and these partsmay with facility be manufactured at low cost of production, the partsmay be assembled with convenience, and the resulting structure mayreadily be collapsed or folded, and unfolded, as desired.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be describedand more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a complete example of aphysical embodiment of my collapsible bottle carrier in which the partsare combined and arranged in accord with one mode I have devised for thepractical application of the principles of my invention. Itwill-however, be understood that changes and alterations arecontemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings andmechanical structures, within the scope of my claims without departingfrom the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a carrier in which my inventionis embodied, and showing the extensible handle in retracted or depressedposition; and Figure 2 is an end elevation of the carrier in Fig. 1, inextended position or unfolded to receive and contain bottles.

Figure 3 is an end View of the carrier in collapsed or folded positionfor shipping and storing. I

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a carrier in extended position andadapted to receive and contain six bottles.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the carrier in folded orcollapsed position; and Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view at line 66of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is an end view of the extended carrier, showing a bottle bydotted lines.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the handle uplifted incarrying position,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the bottom panelsof the infolding trays, with separators thereon, and disclosing a socketfor a bottle cap.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the handle supportstogether with hinge joints for the unitary braces or separators of thetrays.

Figure 10A is a detail cross section at line I UA-I 0A of Fig. 10.

Figure 10B is a similar view of portions of a handle support and panel.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view showing a portion of the centralpanel with a leg of the handle and the guide sleeve therefor, togetherwith a hinge joint for the bracing units, and the vertically movableactuators.

Figure 12 is. a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one of theside panels of an infolding tray with advertising matter embossedthereon. a

In the illustrated embodiment of the carrier the parts are preferablyfashioned of sheet metal and sufficiently strong metallic wires, and asa base or main support of the carrier I employ a central uprightlongitudinally extending panel I having a double thick wall, and cutaway at 2; along its upper edge to accommodate a hand in carrying thedevice.

The carrier is provided with a vertically adjustable handle 3 ofinverted U-shape mounted on the central panel, and the legs 4, 4 of thehandle are slidably mounted in a pair of upper guide brackets 5, 5 onthe panel and a lower pair of longer sleeves 6, 6, rigid with theactuator. The legs of the handle terminate in outwardly projecting stoplugs l, l, for engagement with the lower ends of the sleeves 6, 6, whenthe handleis uplifted tocarrying position; and in storing or shippingposition of the collapsible carrier,

the handle is depressed into contact with the upper edge of the centralpanel. The cross bar of the handle is equipped with a hand-piece orhand-grasp 8 having spaced flanges 9, 9, that may fit over the top edgeof the panel when the handle is depressed to stabilize the handle whenin down position, as when loading the carrier and when piling onecarrier on top of another carrier, for stacking purposes.

At its lower end the center panel is fashioned with a pair of integraloppositely extending flanges l and II that are disposed longitudinallyof the panel, and these flanges at their outer edges terminate in hingesleeves as l2, to which a pair of 'in'foldin'g trays are hinged at' theopposite sides of the center panel and'similar hinge sleeves l2 areindicated on the hinged parts of the trays.

Each tray includes a bottom panel as i 2 and I 3 and the panels arehinged to the flanges as by long pivot or hinge pins 15. The bottompanels are adapted to support the bottles, as B, and each bottom panelis provided with a longitudinally extending series of upright, integralflanges l6, spaced apart to accommodate the bottles, and formingseparators for the upstanding bottles.

--In Fig. 9it will be seen that each of the bottom panels on itsunderside is indented or embossed to form'a circular socket l1 and instacking a series of carriers the sockets in the bottom panels of anupper tray fit snugly over the caps C of the bottles standingin a lowertray.

The bottom panel oi each infolding tray is provided with an outerupright side panel as [.9 and 20, and these side panel are hinged totheouter edges of the bottom panelsby means of hinge pins it], 29 andears I2, in order that the bottom panelsmay 'fold inwardly against theopposite sides 'of the lower portion of the center panel, and the sidepanels may fold in inclined position against the upper portion of thecenter paneLas best'se'en'in Fig; 6. l

' For retaining and bracing the unfolded trays in rigid "carryingposition, and for co-a'cti'on' with the separators on the bottom panels,in holding the" bottles in upright position, each tray is equipped witha preferably unitary structure of wire of "suitable strength,'by meansof'which' the traysare united with the center panel at its'op- Dositesides."

'Each of these unitary braces, which are utilized as actuators infolding and unfolding the trays, includes-two double thickspacing armsor separators ZI-and 22 that extend inwardlytoward the center panelfor'impingement against its opposite sides, and two actuating link bars23 and 24, the bars and arms being spaced to coincide with the bottomseparators or flanges of the bottom panels. The angular braces alsoinclude longitudinally extending hinge bars 25 that are hinged in'sleeves 26' on'-thetop edges of the side panels, and the free ends 21'of the arms contact the opposite sides-of the center panel while theinner ends of the link bars 23 and 24 are bent to form journals 28 thatare hinged in bearing sleeves 29 conveniently fashioned at the lowerends of the flanges 30 of the handle sleeves 6, of the actuators.

Asseen in Fig. 10 these actuators 629 are provided with bottom tabs 3|that fitinto slots 32 of the center panel I, to reinforce the joint ofthe combined guide sleeve 6 for the handle and the pairs of oppositelyarranged ears or hinge sleeves 29 for the journals of the end links ofthe trays.

For identifying purposes, the side panels I8 and I9 may be utilized asadvertising plates, as indicated in Fig. 12 where the letters of theadvertising matter are embossed at 33 by stamping, or otherwiseimpressing the metal, and such matter is visible while the trays areinfolded as well as when the side trays are extended for use.

When the trays are loaded with bottles, a lifting movement applied tothe depressed handle of the carrier, applies a slight initial infoldingmovement to the two trays, so that the end links will be slightlyinclined upwardly from the horizontal, and the side walls of the trayswill be slightly inclined toward the center panel, as indicated in Fig.'7. In this manner thesidewalls of the trays are made to hug, or leanfagainstfthe two sets of bottles, for retaining th'ni i'ntight posit ienswithin the trays while the appliance is being handled. This hugging orclamping action of the trays against, their contained bottles isaccomplished by adjusting movements of the actuators 6, and forthis'purpose the opposite ends of the center tray are cut away at 32 andthe metal at the endsoi the cut-out is bent to form an integral stop ing34 against upward movement of the actuator and a second stop lug 35 tolimit downwarcimovement of the actuator, and the tabs 3] of the actuatorco-act with these lugs,'a lternately, to limit the upward anddownwardmovements of the two actuators.

After the bottles have been loaded by hand, or by machine, and with thehandl in depressed position, the initial lifting.,movement applied byhand [to the handle, lifts the actuators, slightly, to'cause the sidetrays to hug the bottles; then the movement of the actuatorsis stoppedand they remain stationary while the legs of thehan- (116 are beingpulled up through the sleeves 6 until the lugsl, '1 of the handlesengagethe bottoms of the sleeves, thereby taking the load of the ca rier.

When the carrier is empty, however, the bottom panels may be swung intoupright position against the opposite sides o f the center panel, thesidepanels fold into inclined position against the upper portion oftheicenter panel, and .the end links are folded into upright positionbetween the side panels and the center panel, with, the handle uplifted,as in Figs. 5 and 6,.top1'ovidea compactarrangement for storingorshipping of the carriers Having thus fully described my invention,.what I. claim as newand desire to secur by Letters Patent is:

1. The combinationin acollapsible bottle-carrier. having alongitudinally extending vertical center panel and a handle therefor,and apairot oppositely extending horizontal bottom flanges on the panel,of a pair of. bottomrpanelshinged to. said flanges, a pair of upright.side. panels hinged to the bottomflanges, a pair of link-bars pivotallyconnecting the upperedges of. the side panels with the center pane bandspaced foldable cross arms pivoted at their-outer. ends on the up: peredges of theside panelsfor. separating stand; ing bottles.

2. The combination in a collapsible bottle carrier having alongitudinallyvextending vertical center panel and a handle therefor,and a pair of oppositely-extending horizontal. bottom flanges onthepanel, of a pair of bottom panels hinged to said flanges, a pair ofupright side panels hinged to the bottom, panels of I a unitar separatorarranged on each side of said center panel and embodying end link barshingedly connected about to said Center panel, and cross-arms arrangedin- REFERENCES CITED termediate said link bars. 3. The combilnation in acollapsitllf bottle gar- 5 :1 3 gfii i are of record in the rier of apane, a pair of opposi y ex en ing horizontal bottom flanges on saidcentral panel, a l UNITED STATES PATENTS pair of bottom panels hingedlyconnected to said Number Name Date bottom flanges, socketsfon theunder-side of the .593,889 Horn Nov. 16, 1897 bottom panels, a unitaryseparator arranged on 2,293,646 Haas et a1 Aug. 18, 1942 each side ofsaid panel iand including end link 2,329,656 Sedgwick p 1943 bars havinghinge connections with the central 0 2,347,807 Booth May 2, 1944 panel,and cross arms arranged intermediat said 25 3 3 Cunningham 19. 1944 linkbars. 1 2,425,140 Allen Aug. 5, 1947 ROY FOWLER 2,425,401 Shaw et a1Aug. 12, 1947

